Two veteran CAT employees have a total combined 90 years of experience
Savannah, GA – As the Labor Day holiday approaches, many of us may be thinking about the end of summer vacations or that last holiday barbecue with family and friends — not about the true meaning of the holiday.
This Labor Day, the Chatham Area Transit (CAT) is saying THANK YOU to its talented workforce and salutes all the hard working and professional bus operators, skilled marine and maintenance personnel, and talented support staff who are committed to its mission to provide high quality public transit services.
CAT has a number of veteran employees with various years of employment with the agency. Two of those bus operators who have served for 45 years are Richard “Rip” Richardson and Christopher Blake. Both have a combined 90 years of service and are still going strong.
Richard Richardson began his service with Savannah Transit Authority, CAT’s predecessor, on February 12, 1973. He is most notably remembered as the bus operator on the 4 Barnard route and currently, the 12 Henry. “I’m just happy that I’m still able to serve the public and plan to continue to do so for as long as I can,” Richardson said when asked about his longevity.
Christopher Blake joined Savannah Transit Authority on April 16, 1973. He is most recognized as the veteran driver on the 29 West Gwinnett route. “It’s been a journey and I have seen many changes over the years. I hope that I remain healthy enough to serve for five more years.” Blake stated.
“We have many talented people in this organization who truly care about the services we are providing to Chatham County residents,” Chief Executive Officer Curtis Koleber said. “This Labor Day, the Board of Directors and leadership team want to express our appreciation for their assistance and all that these employees are doing to provide high quality transit services in this community. We have challenges, but every single day with their help, we make progress toward building a better and more accessible public transit system. ”
CAT is always searching for qualified people to join its team of professional bus operators, mechanics, ferry operators and support staff. For more information, interested individuals may visit CAT’s website at catchacat.org for employment opportunities.